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Tuesday, May 26th, 1863
Camp near Franklin, Tenn.
Dear Friend David,
Tis some time since I rec'd Robert's letter but some how I have been unable to answer it before now. There has always been something to take up all my spare time.
It is very dusty just now and having marched out here with the Regt. I find my self all dusty, so you must not mind if my paper is a little dirty like before I get through.
Now I suppose you will want to know what I mean by being out here. Well, you see it is just this. A Regt is sent out each morning to stand picket over on the side of the Big Warpeth. I suppose you know a little about said river. We cross near where the pontoon bridge used to be. That is done away with now though, and a good stationary bridge built in its place. Chase took the pontoons to Nashville the other day. Now I'll go back into the subject again. After crossing the bridge we pass through the great city of Franklin (Tenn.) leaving one Co. at the court house. As we pass along and come to the different roads branching off, one Co. leaves and then another. Finally the regt. comes to head quarters. Some are detailed for other posts, and the rest are on reserve. As it happened our Co. was sent off on one of the roads. We came to Co. head quarters in due time. Six men, a corporal and a sergeant were sent off to one post, a corporal and three or four men to another post and to this post was sent the two Clark boys, Inman, H. Payne, Wm. Bonner, , S. Clark, Sgt. Murry and myself. We have but one man on guard at a time. Are stationed in those woods a little South of West of the gin house. It is a grand place, no underbrush, plenty of grass and plenty of shade. If the rebs will only let us alone, I calculate to have a good time. The day is a fine one too, rather warm out of the shade but splendid in the shade.
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Our brigade takes turns with Gilbert's in coming out here. First Gilbert sends out a regt. then we, and then Gilbert and so forth and so on.
Our turn comes about once in ten days. Besides coming out here, there is a detail from each regt. of our brigade sent except the one that happens to be out here sent out on picket on the same side of the river with the camp.
We don't have much fatigue duty to do at present so we have to drill. In the forenoon we have either target practice or Co. drill. In the afternoon we have two or three hours of brigade drill. I tell you what, some of these hot days it makes the sweat start, marching from one side of a field to the other, changing front or making any other of these movements.
It comes very natural now days to take to the water every time we can get a chance. I have got nicely fined several times for writing when some one would propose going down to the river for a swim. Of course, I couldn't say no, considering how much I was in need of a wash. So my writing is laid aside and I have a swim. It does a man lots of good too, to take a swim now and then in this hot dusty weather. By the way, I don't believe it has rained here now for two or three weeks, and a person is pretty sure to find it out if he walks through camp or out on the pike road much.
You ought to see the timber that has been cut to give our batteries range. One place in particular. It was a large piece of perhaps ten or fifteen acres, nice and grassy, no under brush, but few stumps and just trees enough to make a pretty shade. It would do finely for fourth of July sprees, to say nothing of camping to have a camp in the shade. Well, sir, those trees fell before the axes of the brave ninety sixth, in just about four hours work. If the rebels manage to charge over that piece of ground, they will do more than I should like to undertake.
I am getting along finely now days, consider myself about as fit for duty as the next man, I can go on when ever my turn comes, without any trouble. Last Saturday I was on fatigue, Sunday on picket, and on
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picket again today, fact is, I believe I had rather be on duty than have to drill so much. I suppose I shall have to drill tomorrow having been the last on guard and the last on fatigue.
I am getting hard up for something to say. We are living better than ever since leaving home. We draw flour and having built a brick oven, our two cooks are prepared to make very nearly as good rise or raised bread as you get at home, perhaps I exaggerate a little, but it is a good deal better than what the sutler used to furnish at from ten to fifteen cts. per loaf. At first, when the boys took a loaf with them out on picket, no one would believe that it was cooked in the Co. I don't know where or how the cooks get their raising material, and I don't much care, as long as it is gotten honestly and I suppose it is.
Another blessing from that brick oven: baked fresh beef every once in a while, now and then a mess of baked instead of stewed beans relish very well too. Last Sunday to make my soft bread go well I got a canteen full of milk for twenty cts. and made a very good supper on bread and milk. In the morning I made a cup of coffee for the first time in my life, I guess, put in a lot of milk and sugar, sat me down and had a beautiful breakfast.
We came very near having a little extra for breakfast. One of the boys on my post managed to lay hold on a little fat little pig which was just on the point of being slain, when up comes a man on horse back, and they fearing he might have something to say, let the creature go on his way in peace. Of course, dis chile had nothing to do in the matter. There are lots of cows around here and I shouldn't wonder, seeing we are pretty well down in Dixie at present, if I had some milk free of charge, for dinner this noon to make up for having had to pay so much the other night, you see I like to have things equal.
In a few weeks I reckon we shall have fruit added to the rest of the p. 4
good things to be found in camp. Ripe strawberries have been found for the last two or three weeks. Blackberries are coming on fast and I guess there will be lots of them. Peaches and apples are coming right straight along too. Peaches are two thirds grown, I should think.
Now I am going to congratulate you and Andy on having got home, and done as well as you have. I was very much afraid you wouldn't be able to stand it, when you left us. You were so weak to be sent off alone. However, they say "all's well that ends well," Now I am beginning to think, seeing you have got along so far, that you will get along a little further. From what I hear, Andy is on the gain too, it is pleasant to hear of you fellers getting well even though you gain very slowly. I want to come home when the war is over and find you all well. I believe it will do a person's feelings good. There will be lots of fun.
I am thinking when we get home after destroying slavery and the rebellion. "Hurrah for a Union without slavery" that's my idea of the thing exactly. I should feel badly to have the war close without being sure of the destruction of slavery. If the South should lay down their arms and give up every thing but slavery, I think we should have to do this work all over again in twenty or thirty years. At any rate, that is the way the thing is very apt to work. Men that are in the habit of lording it over one are very apt to want to lord it over another, and as we northern men don't exactly like to have another tell us what we shall do and what we shan't, why there is a chance for a fuss.
Well, seeing it is time I was getting a little something to eat, and having written down quite a lot, considering for your especial benefit, I guess I'll close up with a few interesting items.
First, the paymaster is here, what for, remains to be seen, you know. Second, Winter Wheat is headed out down here and where it has been let alone looks finely. Fact third, John Bensinger tells me to send you and the rest, his best respects. He is a fine fellow, no mistake.
Give my respects to the very best of them, to your folks and to Andy's. Tell B. Albert I mean to answer his letter to himself if I get a chance some of these days. But I'd like to hear from you once in a while either through him or yourself. There is Andy too, I want him to write some day.
From your friend,
George Dodge.

The images in the Lake County Discovery Museum collections may be viewed, downloaded, and printed for personal or educational use, but commercial use is prohibited without permission. Questions may be directed to the museum at LCHA@lcfpd.org or (847) 968-3381.

The images in the Lake County Discovery Museum collections may be viewed, downloaded, and printed for personal or educational use, but commercial use is prohibited without permission. Questions may be directed to the museum at LCHA@lcfpd.org or (847) 968-3381.